{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

West Palm holding special meetings on housing department, future city projects

Before today’s commission meetings, commissioners will hold two special workshops. At 3 p.m., the city will receive an hour-long progress report from Community Redevelopment Associates of Florida, the outside company that the city hired to take control of the city’s housing department in April following the Redemptive Life investigation and a revolving door of interim and full-time directors who couldn’t bring stability to the housing department.

At 4 p.m., staff will spend an hour presenting its capital improvement plan (upcoming projects) for the 2012-13 budget year.

While there aren’t any big ticket items at today’s 5 p.m. commission meeting (the Related condo project is on hold until Aug. 6), there are several interesting items on the agenda. Mayor Jeri Muoio will ask commissioners to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Florida East Coast Industries to identify potential downtown sites for passenger stations.

Also, commissioners will vote on a resolution to strongly support the county’s continued allocation of $12.50 funds to West Palm and other cities. In May, the county rescinded the funds for cities, including West Palm Beach, that have switched to the OpenSky police radio system. Other cities, including Palm Beach Gardens, are passing similar resolutions in hopes to get the county to reconsider allocating the $12.50 funds.

Muoio said last year she wants the city to back out of the OpenSky system. Former police chief Delsa Bush, a strong OpenSky supporter, resigned following a public spat with Muoio over OpenSky in October. Since then, the police radio system has not been discussed by commissioners, and West Palm continues to be a part of the consortium that runs OpenSky, although the system is not operational in the city as commissioners have not approved final funding for radios.